#neverboring

Thinking Outside of The Box, Yet Not Too Far

Businesses yearn for innovation, yet seem to get stuck on how to harness creativity within their organizations. Instead they often seek assistance from outside agencies, like our firm Brandberry, to do the ideation for them. We’ve seen some unbelievable yet underutilized talent and are often stumped as to why they have their blinders on. Below you will find some of our secrets to climb outside of the box, while still grounding those ideas.

Consider Who Put You In The Box In The First PlaceWhile it’s often unintentional, the rut of everyday business can stifle creativity. New ideas could be ignored due to deadlines and urgent tasks. A great concept could be dismissed because it’s too out there or maybe the person is not high enough within the organization to be heard. Other times, it’s you who puts yourself in the box by thinking your ideas aren’t good enough. Creativity is like a light switch, the electricity is always ready, all that matters is that you are aware enough to turn it on.

Become A Master Of The Art Of FusionSometimes the best way to step outside of the box (without stepping too far) is to adopt the art of fusion. Inspiration can be found everywhere, so look beyond your industry, then mix those new ideas with something tried and true. Adopting something that’s working in another field may be the perfect addition to show validity. Even though companies say they want something new, they are often still somewhat risk averse, so this requires a careful balance.

Switch Up Your Daily Routine To Unleash IdeasGet out of your daily grind to prompt creative thinking or just try to view your day through a new lense. Keep innovation top of mind every waking moment. Even a simple task such as going to a grocery store or filling your car with gas can become a source of innovation. Instead of zoning out or day dreaming, look around and absorb what is right in front of you.

Remember To Keep It SimpleNot all ideas have to change the world, but they do need to be easy to explain. If you can’t come up with an elevator pitch, you’ve probably stepped too far away from a solid idea. It’s okay to be a pie in the sky dreamer, but it’s also important to make sure it’s something that can be communicated easily to the end user.

Practice Grounding Your IdeasAfter you go far outside the box, try to see if you can fit them back into the box. Ensure the core principals of your product or service are not lost. Also, make sure it fills a gap in the market or has a unique enough positioning to stand out from the competition. If you do this before sharing your concepts, the review process will be simpler…and more convincing!